The pugilistic plumber has been in more games than probably any other character. But we took those aside, not counting his excellent appearance in Punch Out or Yoshi’s Cookie, but counting only the main games to see some of his better games.

1. Super Mario Bros 2

To some they may know this as Doki Doki Panic, which was then re-skinned as a Mario game. Still, despite how really weird this game was, it set several staples into the game such as Shy Guys, Birdo and other famous types.

2. New Super Mario Bros. Wii

The formula for the game was tried and tested by the time this came out, or it would have been higher on the list.

Still, when it comes to a four-player game that beats Mario Party, New Super Mario Bros.

Wii is an excellent addition to any collection.

3. Super Mario Kart

Some kids played F-Zero, but more kids played Super Mario Kart. The fast and furious bonanza that often came from the game made it far more than a simple racing game. Not to mention the howls of rage once you sniped someone with a turtle shell…

4. Super Mario World

One of the single greatest games, let alone Mario game, to grace the SNES, Super Mario World is a full package.

Large, sprawling levels, secrets, hidden treasures, bonus stages, the works. Virtually the epitome of what a platforming game should be.

5. Super Mario 64

The first foray into the three-dimensional world was a massive undertaking, and it turned out to be a powerful addition to the game series.

Replaying levels again to get all the stars and checking out all the new ones to save the Princess made for a good old time.

6. Super Mario Galaxy

Having entered with Super Mario 64 and then polished with Sunshine, they presented their new effective prowess by releasing Super Mario Galaxy which was a smashing success. Rosalina and her plight caught the attention of fans, both new and old, into this new world.

7. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

The Paper Mario series is the spiritual successor to Super Mario RPG, and without exception, the Thousand Year Door is the best one in the series.

Memorable characters, an amazing plotline and a fulfilling RPG experience all in one.

8. Super Mario Bros 3

Easily the best Mario game for the NES and to this day has enough power and refinement to match many SNES games of the same genre. Super Mario Bros.

3 is a testament to the power of the NES and its capability for presentation.

The worlds built by some games are truly amazing, or there’s just one area that is so striking compared to the rest that just sticks out in your mind when you recall it.

Here are our 7 choices, what would be yours?

1. Capital Wasteland (Fallout 3)

The Capital Wasteland is the first thing that you see upon leaving the Vault, and that initial experience is forever burned into many of our minds.

The sun is bright and just those first few steps where you look around and thing, “Well now what do I do?” Very well done.

They managed to sum up the entire Fallout 3 experience in that one region: loneliness, danger, excitement and of course freedom!

2. Arkham City (Arkham City)

The city itself in Arkham City was a labyrinthine maze of concrete and steel, and the foreboding feeling that suffuses the air around you as you skulk through the streets, avoiding the gangs as you try to track down your next target.

The overwhelming presence of the city itself makes it almost a character. Not just any character, but one of those lovable main ones that you fall in love with.

The setting of the game and that vibe that you feel while playing it is the number one reason for your subsequent return to it.

3. The Grandmapocalypse (Cookie Clicker)

Normally, I wouldn’t include a flash game in this, especially one like Cookie Clicker.

But if you’ve seen the Grand apocalypse happen, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

The background shifts to old ladies which then become twisted, misshapen and… yeah.

It’s scary as all.

And this is that shift in the atmosphere that we were talking about in the beginning of the article, some parts of the game have so much better atmosphere then the others.

There are a number of main characters in video games and each of them is (usually) awesome for their own reasons. But when looking at the best… that makes things more interesting.

1. Yuri Hyuga (Shadow Hearts)

Any hero who gets introduced to the player as “Rude Hero” before actually being named deserves an honorable mention. An anti-hero right from the start, Yuri does eventually come around and kind of wusses out later. But his initial character is still one of the best.

2. Gene (Godhand)

A man who lost his original arm, Gene acquired one of the “Godhands” and now has the power to become either god or demon. Add in the overly macho attitude and the fact that his sense of justice takes him far beyond mortal understanding, Gene is truly a hero for these troubled times.

3. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)

A physicist who is forced to bear arms against the forces of an alien race, Gordon gets points alone for having balls of steel. With his trusty crowbar in hand, he beats the living tar out of anything in his way, containing the danger as best he can.

4. Snake (Metal Gear Solid)

Snake is a master of subterfuge, disguise, stealth and of course, killing. A bit more chatty than some of the others on this list, one of Snake’s more memorable moments comes when he has his headband of infinite ammo, reminding Raiden with a simple tap and smirk, and allowing the stealth master to shatter the fourth wall.

Roleplaying games have been known for their heroes, their stories and the worlds. But in some games, the weapons tend to define the characters more than their actions.

1. Bare Hands (Various) / Bear Hands (Tekken)

While it’s a list about weaponry, there is much to be said about the man who goes into battle with nothing more than his fists. That or being a giant bear. Thanks Kuma, you make the Tekken series single-pawedly awesome.

2. Whip Sword (Soul Calibur)

While this weapon has made its presence known in other media as well, none of them are wielded by a dominatrix-like woman. Regardless, the sheer versatility of the Whip Sword makes it an amazing weapon just by concept.

3. Hymir’s Finger (Drakkengard)

One of the few named weapons on this list…but it deserves special mention. The story of the weapon is that its owner had melted the armor of those he killed into the weapon and it continued to grow in size and weight. In-game, it’s by far the slowest weapon, but the power behind IT is leagues above anything else in the game.

4. Soul Reaver (Legacy of Kain)

The namesake of part of the series, and quite a few spoilers, the Soul Reaver is a weapon that, in the first game, would pretty much one-shot any enemy you strike with it as it ripped their soul right from their body. Pretty overpowered, but what you had to go through to get it? Totally worth it.

5. Ring Blade (Soul Calibur)

Yes, I already have a weapon from Soul Calibur on this list, but the Ring Blade is cool as hell. It’s very likely completely impractical but it is the coolest damn thing I have seen in a fighting game. How it’s used is also interesting, so despite its lack of unique properties, it being cool puts it at #3.

6. Buster Sword (Final Fantasy VII)

How could we make a list about cool weapons and not include this? It’s iconic. It’s powerful. It’s also one of those weapons that would be almost impossible to wield, and the handle would probably break with one swing but… that intimidation factor is just immensely cool.

7. Master Sword (Legend of Zelda)

The Sword of Evil’s Bane. How much more do I need to say when it has a title like that? The weapon has been in nearly every title, save a scant few, and nearly all of them were an origin story about the blade, regardless. It’s arguably more important than Link himself and is the focal point of nearly every story. There’s a reason it’s called the Master Sword.

Having done an article on best weapons in games, I realized that there hadn’t been any guns. So I decided to dedicate one just to the ridiculously awesome weapons out there in the shooter games.

7. Krauser’s Bow (Resident Evil 4)

Resident Evil isn’t the most shooter-esque game out there but the side missions where you’re allowed to play as Krauser are very entertaining. And his bow is so incredibly overpowered it’s almost unfair. One shot takes out most enemies. Granted it is hard to aim, but once you get it down (thank you Links’ Crossbow Training) you’re nigh-unstoppable.

6. Rock-it Launcher (Fallout 3)

There comes a point where you just have so much crap in your inventory that you don’t know what to do with it. In that regard, we suggest loading it into your Rock-It Launcher and blowing your enemies away with it. Fun and economical!

5. FCA-26 Rail Driver (Red Faction)

So here’s a gun that allows you to see your opponents through walls, no matter how far they are away… and your gun can shoot through said walls. This weapon was incredibly amusing to use in the multi-player modes, as you never knew when death was going to fall upon you.

4. BFG 9000 (Doom)

Everyone remembers the BFG. The “Big Freakin’ Gun” fires large spheres of green plasma that deals an incredible amount of damage to your enemies. It melted through the common foes and could clear a room in just a few moments. Truly a weapon for your man’s man.

3. Golden PP7 (Golden Eye 007)

This weapon was only available via cheat codes in Goldeneye.

But it didn’t matter; you were able to carry around just your basic pistol and completely one-shot anyone that came across your path.

It didn’t matter what it was; one shot, one kill.

2. Wraithverge (Hexen)

Hexen was the sequel to Heretic, and it was unique as it gave you the choice of different character classes.

The Wraithverge was the weapon of the Cleric and was a staff that shoots a sphere…which then turns into four wraiths that rip apart your enemies.

It really doesn’t get much cooler than that. Guess we gotta go ridiculous

1. Excalibat (Rise of the Triad)

While I’ve never actually played this game, the weapon precedes it.

It’s a glowing green bat that sends your enemies airborne with a single swing.

Or, charge it up to release a wave of force in the shape of baseballs at your foes.

It’s ridiculous, awesome and ridiculously awesome, so it takes the number one spot.

Music is something that sets the mood and that gets you into the game. So which of the games have some of the best songs? There are a few but let’s look at these 8:

1. Ultra Marine Deep (Ys VI: Ark of Napishtim)

This particular track is one that I wouldn’t have normally picked for this list, but the track is one that is always on my playlists and I regularly listen to. It’s simple, clean and has a good fun beat behind it. It’s a nice little song to get the countdown started.

2. J-E-N-O-V-A (Final Fantasy 7)

While there are a host of good songs from the Final Fantasy series, this is one that I’ve always really enjoyed. It’s got a sense of finality and urgency around it, leaving you with just waiting and watching to push Jenova over the edge. One Winged Angel has far too much but Jenova is effective.

3. DK Rap (Donkey Kong 64)

This song is completely hokey, awful and full of so many musical pitfalls I can’t even begin to start with, and yet this is still one of my favorite songs. It’s got that memorable feel, like when you come home to mom’s house and you smell the food baking? It’s like that, only with mild ear bleeding.

4. Bolero of Fire (Legend of Zelda)

This song doesn’t get enough credit, period. Song of Storms is a well-done song but as that gets more use, it’s generally looked more on favorably. But the Bolero of Fire is truly a powerful song that has just a short time in the game.

5. Porky Means Business (Earthbound)

This fight is one that you wouldn’t really expect to have an epic boss battle theme to. Porky’s just the second in command to Giygas yet the theme itself starts out strong, continues strong and ends strong. It’s a simple but powerful boss battle music that gets its arrogance from Porky.

6. Vigil (Mass Effect)

The opening theme from Mass Effect has left its impression on many, and I’m no exception. The first few notes are all I need to feel that rush and make me consider starting over yet again with another class I haven’t tried yet. Somber, quiet and powerful.

7. Magus’ Theme (Chrono Trigger)

While Lavos has a theme that definitely screams “I am the end boss”, Magus has his own that seems to have an extra bit to it. There’s a certain level of badass in it; a cocky arrogance that you just don’t get from others.

8. Wily Stage 1-2 (Megaman 2)

It will never matter how many times I hear this song, I will always sing along and in a horrible fashion. This song is the thing that most people remember about Megaman 2, and the theme gets your blood pumping as you’re fighting your way to Wily. An amazing song, especially considering it had only the power of the NES to relay it.